Sheltair Opens New Florida FBO

Sheltair has opened its FBO in the newly constructed terminal at Florida dedicated general aviation gateway Ocala International Airport-Jim Taylor Field (OCF). A combined private-public effort among the city of Ocala, the airport, the state Department of Transportation, and the service provider, the $7 million 15,722-sq-ft facility houses the Sheltair FBO with offices, passenger and crew lounges, quiet room, and flight planning area, along with airport administration offices, rental car facilities, community event space, and a restaurant expected to debut next year. Given the airport's location in the heart of Florida horse-country, equine handling is also available.

Sheltair, which is exhibiting this week in the Avfuel booth at NBAA's Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, also just broke ground at the Central Florida airport on a new 20,000-sq-ft hangar with 28-foot high doors to accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets.

“We believe that this new hangar now under construction and the adjacent FBO building represent a world-class ‘front door’ to the city of Ocala that has come to market just in time,” said Todd Anderson, Florida-based Sheltair’s vice president for real estate and development. “Our company is proud to be a part of this unique partnership, contributing our proven aviation design expertise along with a $2 million financial investment, allowing us to celebrate a much-anticipated ribbon cutting.”

NBAA’s SDC 2020 Is a Go

NBAA is preparing to kick off its annual Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference (SDC) as scheduled, this week in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the organization acknowledged the coronavirus threat in a statement released last week.

“The health and safety of our members, event participants, and partners are our top priority. NBAA continues to closely monitor developments related to COVID-19 and has been in frequent contact with medical experts,” it stated. “At this year’s conference, we will add further safety and sanitation measures, reflecting from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specific to COVID-19 preparation.”

Typically the show attracts several thousand attendees and approximately 500 exhibitors. It will begin tomorrow evening with the “Launch,” a three-hour reception on the show floor, followed by the opening session on Wednesday morning.

Newly added for this year are two product showcase sessions, on the show floor on Wednesday, with brief presentations featuring new products and solutions recently introduced in the business aviation marketplace. Until the show closes on Friday afternoon, attendees will have a choice of 33 informational sessions with topics ranging from how to save money on fueling to flight department security to planning for all types of weather situations, along with the typical regional operations discussions.

Paragon Adds Nine Ross FBO Locations

Nine Ross Aviation FBO locations have joined the Paragon Network, boosting its member FBO total to 70 in 20 countries, Paragon Aviation Group announced today. The Ross FBOs are at SDL in Scottsdale, Arizona; ANC in Anchorage and FAI in Fairbanks, Alaska; SRQ in Sarasota, Florida; FAT in Fresno, California; and at four Massachusetts airports: BED in Bedford, HYA in Hyannis, ORH in Worchester, and BAF in Westfield.

Those Ross FBOs join three others already in the network: at HPN in White Plains, New York; LGB in Long Beach, California; and TRM in Palm Springs/Thermal, California. “Ross Aviation has always been focused on safety, a commitment to customer service and providing the best FBO facilities possible,” said Paragon Aviation Group president Megan Barnes. “We appreciate their trust in our network and look forward to enhancing each customer’s experience through these additional member locations.”

Ross Aviation CEO Brian Corbett said based on the FBO operator’s experience with its three operations, it expects the nine other FBOs to see a boost in business as part of the Paragon Network. “We are confident that broadening our membership will fuel additional growth for Ross Aviation and our expanding portfolio of FBOs,” Corbett explained.

JetNet To Demonstrate New Salesforce App at NBAA S&D

Business aviation intelligence firm JetNet will be demonstrating its recently announced JetNet for Salesforce on Salesforce AppExchange at the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference that begins tomorrow in Charlotte, North Carolina. JetNet will host demonstrations at its booth in the Charlotte Convention Center.

The new app enables JetNet and Salesforce users to access and import JetNet company, contact, and aircraft data as well as create, update, and customize that information with a single click. It also offers users the ability to maintain original or crates new company relationships in aircraft records, navigate JetNet program links without leaving the Salesforce platform, and easily identify and sync data changes from earlier visits.

“JetNet for Salesforce provides access to one of the largest and most accurate business aviation databases from within the Salesforce platform,” said JetNet president Tony Esposito. “Salesforce clients can now work faster, identify prospects sooner, and better qualify opportunities.” Customer relationship management consulting and development firm CloudOne+ assisted JetNet in the development of the new app.

Part 135 Trade Group Notes Growth Since Launch

As it heads into NBAA’s Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference (SDC) this week, New York City-based air shuttle provider Fly Louie noted that its Fly Louie Alliance, a program designed to bring economies of scale to the fragmented private aircraft charter industry, now lists 580 aircraft, 80 operators, and 36 preferred FBO locations. Launched in the fall, the program seeks to bring to the Part 135 industry the same benefits that the Corporate Aviation Association offers to its Part 91 members.

The alliance users pay no membership fees and receive special fuel pricing at participating FBOs across the country. It has seen acceptance among its members with 87 percent of its enrolled operators fueling at preferred FBOs after their initial onboarding, and most of its partner FBOs have reported fueling member aircraft.

“We are doubling down our efforts on utilization, ensuring that Part 135 members are taking advantage of their benefits at our preferred alliance FBO partners,” said Fly Louie COO Eytan Kurshan. “Many of our FBOs report that the majority of the Alliance aircraft coming to their sites represent incremental, new business.”

The alliance will be one of the initial offerings featured in SDC’s new product showcase, a feature that will be held for the first time at this year’s edition in Charlotte, North Carolina.